FORT BUCHANAN, PR -- The week of January 10 – 15, 2021 marked the first visit of 81st Readiness Division Commanding General and Senior Commander of Fort Buchanan, Major General Jamelle C. Shawley to the military installation.
The visit to the only Federal military installation in Puerto Rico included tours of garrison facilities and Army Reserve centers, office calls with military leaders, garrison personnel and a historical memorialization ceremony.
Maj. Gen. Shawley visited various garrison facilities such as the Child and Youth Support Services, Training Support Center and the School House at the old Antilles Elementary School. Fort Buchanan’s Senior Commander saw the facilities and talked to the respective personnel on the programs and services provided to military and civilian members of the community.
After an office call with Fort Buchanan’s Command Group, Maj. Gen. Shawley visited the Directorate of Family, Welfare and Recreation (FMWR) Child and Youth Support Services (CYSS) where a group of professionals diligently offers top quality childcare services and youth programs in support of Soldiers, Service Members, Civilian Employees and their Families.
At the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security (DPTMS) – Training Division, the Commanding General received a briefing on the Installation’s Training Program, resources, training areas and facilities that support the readiness of all Active and Reserve Component units as well as Federal government agencies. Part of the training support is also provided at the School House facilities located at the old Antilles Elementary School, where Soldiers receive training in Casualty and Mortuary Affairs, among other training requirements.
Maj. Gen. Shawley also participated in a meeting with garrison leaders where she received a briefing on the Project Review Board, to discuss the Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization projects for which she provides final approval as Fort Buchanan’s Senior Commander; the Installation Planning Board that identifies and assess installation-wide planning requirements aligned with the Installation Strategic Plan; the Integrated Priority List that sets or resets installation priorities and requirements, and the Real Property Planning Board that ensures orderly development and management of the Installation Real Property in support of missions, management processes, and achieving community objectives.
Maj. Gen. Shawley met with the Commanding General of the 1st Mission Support Command, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey W. Jurasek; the Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard, Maj. Gen. José J. Reyes; Army Reserve Ambassadors, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Fernando Fernández and Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret.) René Berlingeri; Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army, Luis A. Soto and Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army Emeritus, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Félix A. Santoni. She also visited various Reserve Centers located throughout the island, in Ponce, Mayaguez, Aguadilla, Ceiba and Puerto Nuevo, and met with Troop Program Units (TPU), Active Guard Reserve (AGR) and Active Duty Soldiers during a Soldier’s Town Hall.
In addition to the tour of other facilities such as the garrison’s housing area, Las Casas Lake and the Rodriguez Army Health Clinic, the 81st Commanding General participated of the historical event, the memorialization ceremony of the garrison’s Physical Fitness Center Annex in honor of baseball legend and US Marine Corps Reserve Private First Class Roberto E. Clemente Walker. The state-of-the-art facility supports the Army’s readiness mission and reaffirms the importance of Fort Buchanan’s commitment to the community.
During her first visit to the garrison and Puerto Rico, Maj. Gen. Shawley experienced the hospitality of the Puerto Rican culture and warm welcome from the Fort Buchanan community.
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